On May 14, 2021, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) offered Asarum caulescens (a species of wild ginger) that had been planted at Kyoto Plant to Kamigamo Shrine in Kita Ward, Kyoto City.
As part of biodiversity conservation activities, since 2015, Kyoto Plant has been growing Asarum caulescens divided from the Aoi forest around Kamigamo Shrine in cooperation with AFUHI PROJECT, a non-profit organization working to protect Asarum caulescens designated as a near threatened species. Kyoto Plant offers Asarum caulescens to Kamigamo Shrine every year to be used as decorations for Aoi Matsuri, which is one of the three major festivals in Kyoto.
Unfortunately, due to the declaration of a state of emergency, the Aoi Satogaeri event (an event to celebrate the replanting of Asarum caulescens at the Aoi forest around Kamigamo Shrine) was cancelled again this year. However, on the day of offering Asarum caulescens, we were able to participate in helping create decorations of Aoi-Katsura combination (known as Kikkei) and replant the offered Asarum caulescens in the Aoi forest.
■ Feedback from the employee in charge of the project
I’m glad to hear that the decorations of Aoi-Katsura combination (Kikkei) made by us will be used as the bamboo blind decorations (Misu Kazari) on the day of Aoi Matsuri. So we have made up our mind again to take good care of Asarum caulescens so that they can be used and replanted again next year.
■ AFUHI PROJECT, a non-profit organization